What is a live performance royalty? A simple explanation.

Money paid to a songwriter every time one of their original compositions is performed publicly in a licensed venue.

A live performance royalty is money paid to a songwriter every time one of their original compositions is performed publicly in a licensed venue.

Not when a recording plays. Not when someone streams it. When a human being performs the song — on a stage — in a place that has paid for the right to have music performed there.

Where does the money come from?

The money starts with the venue. Bars, clubs, concert halls, festivals, restaurants — any establishment where live music is performed is legally required to hold a license from their country’s Performing Rights Organization.

In Canada that’s SOCAN. In the US it’s ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR. In the UK it’s PRS. In Australia it’s APRA AMCOS. Every country has one, and they all work together through reciprocal agreements.

How does it get to the songwriter?

The PRO takes that pool of money and distributes it to the songwriters whose music was actually performed. But here’s the critical part: the PRO has no way of knowing what songs were played unless someone tells them.

That’s a setlist submission. After your show, you log into your PRO’s portal and submit the songs you performed, the venue, and the date. The PRO matches it to the license fee paid and sends you your share.

If you don’t submit, the money sits. Eventually it gets redistributed to artists who did submit — or absorbed into operating costs. See how much goes unclaimed every year →

How much is it worth?

Per original song, writer’s share only. Self-published artists may collect up to 2× these figures.

When do you get paid?

PROs distribute royalties quarterly, typically 6–10 months after the performance. SOCAN takes 8–10 months for most domestic performances. Think of it as money earned tonight that arrives next year — which makes consistent submission all the more important.